Following the Written Declaration launched by a group of MEPS to increase EU support for grassroots sport last September, European Parliament adopted this Declaration mi-December. A majority of 385 Members of the European Parliament agreed to adopt Written Declaration 0062/2010.

5 measures to be implemented by European Union institutions and/or EU member states are mentioned in the Declaration:

Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote sport for all; to ensure that grassroots sport does not suffer from major budget cuts in times of crisis; to pay the necessary attention to grassroots sports in the upcoming Communication on sport from the Commission; to take the results of the study on the financing of grassroots sports with regard to a possible EU initiative on gambling issues into account, to forward this declaration to the Commission and the Parliaments of the Member States.

ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association) has significantly participated in promoting the adoption of the declaration.

Mogens Kirkeby, ISCA President, indicated the Written Declaration is “a milestone in the political engagement in sport at European level. It is a very encouraging and visionary political initiative.” He concluded by “The grassroots sport is about the well-being of the European citizens, which is one of the objectives of the European Union.”